Annual “Rescue the Perishing” Food Mission for Christmas by Mitchell Chapel COGIC is Saturday Dec. 13, 2025
December 12, 2025 – Bishop Nelson Gatlin is organizing the annual “Rescue the Perishing” food distribution sponsored by the church at Christmastime.
He is announcing that local families and individuals who could use a little extra help with food can participate in the food giveaway on Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 8am.
Elderly or housebound persons who cannot go to the location can call ahead at the church to ask about delivery options of a bag of holiday and non-perishable foods.
Vaping Ban in Dallas: What Travelers Need to Know
December 12, 2025 – DALLAS — Heading to Dallas for work, vacation, or the holidays? City officials have a clear message: leave the vape at home. A sweeping vaping ban is now in effect across Dallas, expanding the city’s long-standing smoking restrictions to include e-cigarettes and other vapor-producing devices.
The Dallas City Council approved the ordinance in December 2024 after recommendations from the city’s Environmental Commission and the Office of Environmental Quality and Sustainability. The updated law closes gaps in previous smoking regulations by treating vaping the same as traditional tobacco use in nearly all public indoor and enclosed spaces.
Under the Dallas City Code, vaping is prohibited in any indoor or enclosed area, within 15 feet of business entrances, and on all city park property. This includes hospitals, nursing homes, workplaces, retail shops, city-owned buildings, public and private schools, theaters, libraries, transit vehicles, elevators, and homes used as childcare or health care facilities.
Violators can face fines of up to $500 per offense, and enforcement will be largely complaint-based.
There are limited exceptions. Vaping is still allowed in private residences (unless operating as a care facility), designated smoking hotel rooms, certified cigar bars and tobacco shops, and in theatrical productions when required for a scene. Some outdoor areas—such as patios and golf courses—also remain permitted vaping zones unless otherwise posted.
City officials say the ban is aimed at improving public health and reducing exposure to airborne chemicals in shared spaces.
For visitors, the guidance is simple: if you’re in Dallas and indoors—or near a doorway—keep the vape put away.
2025 Holiday Shipping Deadlines: Key Dates From USPS, FedEx and UPS
December 12, 2025 – With the holiday season quickly approaching, major carriers are reminding customers to ship early to avoid delays. USPS, FedEx, and UPS have released their recommended deadlines for 2025, giving senders a clear timeline to ensure gifts, cards, and holiday essentials arrive before Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and other celebrations.
For the U.S. Postal Service, the recommended last day to ship Retail Ground and Media Mail is December 14, while First-Class Mail and First-Class packages should be sent by December 18. Priority Mail should go out by December 19, and Priority Mail Express by December 21.
FedEx advises customers to ship FedEx Ground packages by December 16, while Home Delivery shipments should be sent by December 18. For last-minute sending, FedEx Express Saver must go out by December 20, 2Day by December 21, and Overnight services by December 23.
UPS recommends sending Ground packages by December 17, with 3 Day Select by December 19 and 2nd Day Air by December 20. Next Day Air packages can be shipped as late as December 23.
Carriers warn that winter weather, high package volume, and transportation strain may affect delivery times, making early shipping the safest option.
Hopkins County Jury Delivers Life Sentence to Man Convicted of Possession of Child Pornography
December 11, 2025 – SULPHUR SPRINGS – A Hopkins County jury convicted Jason Crossland, a Sulphur Springs resident, of two counts of possession of child pornography—one count for a video depicting the sexual assault of a child and one count for possessing fewer than 100 visual items of a child engaged in sexual conduct. While performing their duty, the jury was required to review explicit evidence as the prosecution proved its case in chief. After a relatively brief deliberation, the jury found the defendant guilty as charged. Crossland had elected that the jury assess punishment in the event he was convicted. After both the State and defense presented brief testimony, Zach Blackmon delivered a strong argument that Crossland receive the maximum sentence of life in prison. The Hopkins County jury responded quickly with the following verdicts: 10 years confinement on the 3rd degree indictment (plus a $10,000 fine) and life in prison on the 1st degree indictment (plus a $10,000 fine). Mr. Blackmon then urged Judge Eddie Northcutt to order that the sentences be served consecutively, which the Judge granted. This action guarantees that Crossland will spend a minimum of 35 calendar-years in prison prior to being eligible for parole.
The 8th Judicial District Attorney’s office extends its sincere thanks and gratitude to this jury for their service in this difficult case. We want to thank the Texas Department of Public Safety for their outstanding work, with special recognition to lead investigator Special Agent Phil Alston and Special Agent Charles Cannon. Both men executed impeccable work and exemplified the knowledge and demeanor we expect from our officers while testifying. We also thank Collin County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Travis Monk for traveling to Hopkins County in order to testify.
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office, Sulphur Springs Police Department, and members from the community filled the courtroom during closing arguments to show Hopkins County’s commitment to protecting children.
“This jury made clear that we will not tolerate individuals who consume this material in Hopkins County,” stated Ramsay. “Once again, Zach Blackmon has poured light into a very dark corner of the world. He did it with righteous passion and justice was served.”
Blue Christmas Service at First United Methodist Church of Sulphur Springs Scheduled December 14th
December 11, 2025 – A Blue Christmas Service will be held on Sunday, December 14, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 301 Church Street, Sulphur Springs, Texas.
Grieve and remember at a Blue Christmas service in the Sanctuary of FUMC of Sulphur Springs. They provide a safe space and a service to support you and your loved ones during grief, loneliness and pain in order to nurture healing. Joining with others to remember and mourn can bring support that is essential in moving forward on a journey to recapture the love, joy, hope and peace of Advent and Christmas.
East Texas A&M Celebrating Fall 2025 Graduating Class Across Five Ceremonies
December 11, 2025 – More than 36% of the class graduating with academic distinction.
COMMERCE, TX, December 10, 2025—The class of 2025 at East Texas A&M University will soon be dismissed for the last time when fall commencement ceremonies take place on Friday, Dec. 12, and Saturday, Dec. 13 at the university Field House.
Graduates by the Numbers
In total, 1,344 will graduate from East Texas A&M over the weekend, an increase of 55 students over Fall 2024. Here’s a look at this semester’s graduating class:
- Age of youngest graduate: 19
- Age of oldest graduate: 75
- U.S. states represented: 28
- Countries represented: 7
- First-gen college students: 474
- International students: 109
- Students graduating with academic distinction: 486
Commencement Details
Ceremonies for graduate-level students are scheduled for 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Dec. 12. Undergraduate ceremonies are set for 8:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 13. Tickets are required for entry, but each ceremony will stream live on YouTube for free. Full info for each ceremony is below:
Graduate Ceremonies
- For master’s students in the College of Business and College of Science and Engineering, Friday, Dec. 12, at 1 p.m. Livestream link.
- For doctoral and master’s students in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, the College of Education and Human Services, the College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Arts, and the College of Innovation and Design, Friday, Dec. 12, at 4 p.m. Livestream link.
Undergraduate Ceremonies
- For bachelor’s students in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources and the College of Education and Human Services, Saturday, Dec. 13, at 8:30 a.m. Livestream link.
- For bachelor’s students in the College of Business, College of Humanities, Social Sciences and Arts, and the College of Science and Engineering, Saturday, Dec. 13, at 11:30 a.m. Livestream link.
- For bachelor’s students in the College of Innovation and Design, Saturday, Dec. 13, at 2:30 p.m. Livestream link.
Guest Information
Parking: Graduates and guests without disabilities should park in Lots 1, 2, 3 and 5. Parking Lot 4 is reserved for graduates and guests with disabilities, and proper vehicle identification will be required. Lot 4 may be accessed from Bois D’Arc Street. Shuttle buses to and from the Field House are free of charge and will rotate throughout the parking areas approximately every 15 minutes.
Guest Entrance: All guests must enter through the entrance on the right side of the Field House, facing the building, which will be clearly labeled.
Clear Bag Policy: A clear bag policy is a set of rules and regulations implemented by event organizers, sports facilities, and other institutions that require attendees to use clear bags to bring in their belongings. The policy aims to prevent hazardous items from entering the venue and is standard practice at most large events such as sporting events, concerts, and graduations. This policy will be enforced at the door.
- ALLOWED: Clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bags; small wallet-sized clutches; small medicine bags
- NOT ALLOWED: Clear bags with buckles, hardware, or décor concealing the bag; backpacks and regular-size purses, large totes, diaper bags, or other similar items
Tickets: Unless the graduate informs their guests otherwise based on information they’ve received from the graduation office, tickets are required for the commencement ceremonies. All guests, regardless of age, must have a ticket. Please ensure you can access/retrieve your tickets before entering the building. Guests without tickets may view the stream from the Rayburn Student Center on campus.
More information may be found on the graduation webpage.
Photo: Jason Connel, East Texas A&M Office of Marketing and Communications More than 1,300 Lions will receive their degrees this weekend. | Jason Connel, East Texas A&M Marketing and Communications
Wreaths Across America – Mahoney Cemetery – Saturday, December 13th, 2025
December 11, 2025 – Mahoney Cemetery Association will be participating in the Wreaths Across America program on Saturday, December 13th at noon. The public is invited.
Thank you.
Gilda Cain
214-435-4263
Nationwide 2.7 million wreaths were placed at 3,702 participating locations last year. The mission of Wreaths Across America is Remember, Honor, Teach – remember the fallen, honor those who serve, and teach the next generation the value of freedom.
Texas Launches New Program Aimed at Increasing Sexual Assault Reporting
December 11, 2025 – A new Texas program designed to give sexual assault survivors more control over their reporting decisions is now in effect, and state leaders say it could significantly increase the number of people who seek medical care and evidence collection after an assault.
Under House Bill 1422, survivors can now receive a forensic medical exam and have DNA evidence tested without being required to immediately file a police report. The initiative, known as the Limited Consent for DNA Testing Program, removes what advocates describe as one of the most persistent barriers to reporting: fear of mandatory law-enforcement involvement.
“House Bill 1422 removes one of the biggest barriers sexual assault survivors face when deciding whether to seek help: the fear that getting a forensic exam means they must immediately involve law enforcement,” a state senator said in support of the program. “With the Limited Consent for DNA Testing Program now in place, survivors can take back some control, get critical evidence collected and tested at no cost, and decide later – on their own timeline – whether to move forward with a police report. The implementation of this program marks a historic step forward for survivor-centered justice in Texas.”
State officials and victim-advocacy groups say the program could lead to more timely evidence collection, higher reporting rates, and improved prosecution outcomes in cases where survivors later choose to report. Hospitals and sexual assault nurse examiners have been preparing for the change, which requires new protocols for handling, testing, and storing evidence.
The program represents a major shift in Texas’ approach to sexual assault response—one that prioritizes survivor autonomy and aims to reduce the number of unreported assaults across the state.
How to use the program
What you can do:
If requesting the release of the evidence and lab results to law enforcement in order to pursue an investigation, the survivor should:
- Contact the applicable law enforcement agency, based on where the offense occurred;
- Inform the agency that they are a survivor of a sexual assault, that evidence was previously collected, and was analyzed by the DPS; and
- Sign the Consent for Release of Limited Consent for DNA Testing of Sexual Assault Evidence form (LAB-209) to give DPS permission to release the lab report/kit to law enforcement. The law enforcement case number is required so that any eligible DNA profiles can be entered into CODIS.
Find out more information at this link.
Six More States Join Texas in Banning Junk Food Purchases Under SNAP
December 11, 2025 – Six additional states will soon prohibit Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients from using their benefits to buy junk food, joining a growing nationwide effort to restrict purchases of soda, candy, and other nutritionally poor items. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced Wednesday that Hawaii, Missouri, North Dakota, South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee will adopt the new rules beginning in 2026.
They join 12 other states—including Texas, Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, and West Virginia—that have already committed to redefining what qualifies as “food for purchase” under SNAP. Most states will implement the restrictions on Jan. 1, 2026, with others phasing them in later in the year.
The policy shift is part of the Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative, aimed at reducing chronic diseases linked to diet. Rollins said the changes represent “bold, historic steps to reverse the chronic diseases epidemic that has taken root in this country for far too long.” Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. praised the states’ involvement, calling their participation “courageous leadership.”
While exact rules will differ by state, most will block the purchase of sugary soft drinks, energy drinks, and candy using taxpayer-funded benefits.
The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service oversees SNAP, which cost just over $100 billion in fiscal year 2024 and served more than 42 million Americans. The average recipient received $190.59 per month.
Federal officials say the new restrictions are designed to encourage healthier habits, while critics argue they may burden low-income families. More changes to SNAP eligibility and work requirements are expected as the USDA continues its planned overhaul of the program.
USDA Launches New Regenerative Pilot Program to Lower Farmer Production Costs and Advance MAHA Agenda
December 11, 2025 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, alongside U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz announced a $700 million Regenerative Pilot Program to help American farmers adopt practices that improve soil health, enhance water quality, and boost long-term productivity, all while strengthening America’s food and fiber supply.
Building off the Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy released in September, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is also investing in research on the connection between regenerative agriculture and public health, as well as developing public health messaging explaining this connection.
“Protecting and improving the health of our soil is critical not only for the future viability of farmland, but to the future success of American farmers. In order to continue to be the most productive and efficient growers in the world, we must protect our topsoil from unnecessary erosion and improve soil health and land stewardship. Today’s announcement encourages these priorities while supporting farmers who choose to transition to regenerative agriculture. The Regenerative Pilot Program also puts Farmers First and reduces barriers to entry for conservation programs,” said Secretary Brooke Rollins. “This is another initiative driven by President Trump’s mission to Make America Healthy Again. Alongside Secretary Kennedy, we have made great strides to ensure the safe, nutritious, and affordable food our great farmers produce make it to dinner tables across this great country.”
“In September, under President Trump’s leadership, we released the MAHA Strategy Report, which includes a full section on soil health and land stewardship,” said HHS Secretary Kennedy. “Today’s regenerative farming announcement directly advances that deliverable. If we intend to Make America Healthy Again, we must begin by restoring the health of our soil.”
“We cannot truly be a wealthy nation if we are not also a healthy nation. Access to wholesome, nutritious, and affordable foods is a key tenet of the Make America Healthy Again agenda, which President Trump has directed this administration to execute across all government agencies,” said CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. “I commend Secretary Rollins and Secretary Kennedy for today’s efforts to strengthen our nation’s food supply.”
Protecting Soil and Reducing Production Costs
In response to the Dust Bowl in the 1930s, Congress created the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to help people help the land and improve conservation of the nation’s soil and water resources.
This action led to improved soil health and natural resources management which, in turn, has led to increased productivity. Between 1948 and 2021, total U.S. farm production increased 190% while total farm inputs—such as land, labor, and water—decreased 2% in the same period.
However, current conservation programs at USDA have become overly burdensome and farmers are bogged down with red tape whenever they try to adopt soil health and regenerative agriculture practices. Even with the improved soil health since the creation of NRCS, USDA data shows that farmers recently reported that 25% of acres had water-driven erosion concerns and 16% of acres had wind-driven erosion concerns.
The Regenerative Pilot Program directly addresses these challenges by cutting administrative burdens for producers, expanding access to new and beginning farmers, and boosting yields and long-term soil resilience across operations.
About the Regenerative Pilot Program
Administered by NRCS, this new Regenerative Pilot Program delivers a streamlined, outcome-based conservation model—empowering producers to plan and implement whole-farm regenerative practices through a single application. The initiative highlights USDA’s commitment to putting Farmers First and advancing the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda by building a healthier, more resilient food system.
In FY2026, the Regenerative Pilot Program will focus on whole-farm planning that addresses every major resource concern—soil, water, and natural vitality—under a single conservation framework. USDA is dedicating $400 million through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and $300 million through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) to fund this first year of regenerative agriculture projects.
Producers can now bundle multiple regenerative practices into one application, streamlining the process and increasing flexibility for operations. The program is designed for both beginning and advanced producers, ensuring availability for all farmers ready to take the next step in regenerative agriculture.
Chief’s Advisory Council
To keep the Regenerative Pilot Program grounded in practical, producer-led solutions, NRCS is establishing the Chief’s Regenerative Agriculture Advisory Council. The Council will meet quarterly, with rotating participants, to advise the Chief of NRCS, review implementation progress, and help guide data and reporting improvements. Its recommendations will shape future USDA conservation delivery and strengthen coordination between the public and private sectors.
Public + Private Partnerships
There is a growing desire among private companies to fund conservation practices that improve natural resources management. This announcement unlocks new opportunities for USDA to leverage existing authorities to create public-private partnerships within NRCS conservation programs. These partnerships will allow USDA to match private funding, in turn stretching taxpayer dollars further, and bringing new capacity to producers interested in adopting regenerative practices.
Companies interested in partnering with USDA NRCS in the Regenerative Pilot Program can email [email protected] for more information.
How to Apply
Farmers and ranchers interested in regenerative agriculture are encouraged to apply through their local NRCS Service Center by their state’s ranking dates for consideration in FY2026 funding. Applications for both EQIP and CSP can now be submitted under the new single regenerative application process.
